“In between yesterday's regret and tomorrow's dream is today's opportunity. Seize the chance!”
― Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha, Overcoming the Challenges of Life
“In between yesterday's regret and tomorrow's dream is today's opportunity. Seize the chance!”
― Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha, Overcoming the Challenges of Life
― Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha, Overcoming the Challenges of Life
1 SAMUEL 1-6
6“The Lord brings death and makes alive;
he brings down to the grave and raises up.
7The Lord sends poverty and wealth;
he humbles and he exalts.
8He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes
and has them inherit a throne of honor.
“For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s;
on them he has set the world.
9He will guard the feet of his faithful servants,
but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness.
“It is not by strength that one prevails;
10those who oppose the Lord will be broken.
The Most High will thunder from heaven;
the Lord will judge the ends of the earth.(2:6-10)
LUKE 12
13Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
16And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
18“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’
20“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
21“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
Do Not Worry
22Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.24Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your lifeb ?26Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
27“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
32“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
JOURNAL
Yesterday was a great day. It was my birthday and I felt celebrated and loved. This morning I found out about the death of a freshman who played this fall with Graham at Pearl River. As I looked at his instagram page and saw the evidence of a life with all its blessings, opportunities, hopes and dreams...I was overcome with the reality that life in all its entirety is such a gift. The very breath I take this morning is a gift. The fact that I have an opportunity to live this day is an incredible blessing.
Far too often I forget the blessings of today. Far too often I get hung up hoping and wishing for tomorrow. Days like today are reminders that life is brief, our time here is not guaranteed but it is such a gift. No matter the circumstances, it is a gift and one that should be cherished and lived with intention, passion and purpose. It really should be lived with the reality that it could be my last.
That doesn't mean to live the day in reckless indulgence. It means to live the day knowing that today is a day that writes my eulogy. Today is a day that will define the effect of my life on others. I don't have the time to spend it wishing it were different. I will embrace it in joy as a precious gift and share that joy with others. To not do so is to waste a day, a moment, a gift, one that billions of people no longer have.
Father I pray that this thought is the most present in my heart and mind. I pray that all my actions are done in ways that honor you and the gift of life. I pray that you use my actions to bring encouragement, love and hope to a world that is starving for your grace and often is blinded by fear and anger. Thank you for today, Thank you for 46 amazing years on this earth. Thank you for all the blessings, the lessons, the triumphs, the heartaches, the relationships, the opportunities...all of it.
Yesterday was a great day. It was my birthday and I felt celebrated and loved. This morning I found out about the death of a freshman who played this fall with Graham at Pearl River. As I looked at his instagram page and saw the evidence of a life with all its blessings, opportunities, hopes and dreams...I was overcome with the reality that life in all its entirety is such a gift. The very breath I take this morning is a gift. The fact that I have an opportunity to live this day is an incredible blessing.
Far too often I forget the blessings of today. Far too often I get hung up hoping and wishing for tomorrow. Days like today are reminders that life is brief, our time here is not guaranteed but it is such a gift. No matter the circumstances, it is a gift and one that should be cherished and lived with intention, passion and purpose. It really should be lived with the reality that it could be my last.
That doesn't mean to live the day in reckless indulgence. It means to live the day knowing that today is a day that writes my eulogy. Today is a day that will define the effect of my life on others. I don't have the time to spend it wishing it were different. I will embrace it in joy as a precious gift and share that joy with others. To not do so is to waste a day, a moment, a gift, one that billions of people no longer have.
33“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. 34Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy,g your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy,h your body also is full of darkness. 35See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. 36Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.”
LUKE 11:33-36
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